Democrat Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat on Tuesday, according to media projections, defeating Republican Mike Rogers. El-Sayed, 42, is a former public health official and the son of Egyptian immigrants who will become the first Muslim member of the U.S. Senate.
The victory allows Democrats to retain a seat previously held by retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters. The race was a focal point in the national effort for Senate control, which Republicans led 53-47 entering the midterm elections. El-Sayed’s win came as Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress.
El-Sayed campaigned on a platform that included Medicare for All and the removal of corporate money from politics. Rogers, 63, a former congressman and FBI agent, received support from President Donald Trump and national Republicans. During the campaign, Rogers sought to link El-Sayed to the Muslim Brotherhood, claims El-Sayed denied and for which there was no evidence. Rogers also focused on El-Sayed's opposition to U.S. military aid for Israel and El-Sayed's characterization of Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide.
The scale of the campaign was reflected in the nearly $60 million in outside spending during the August primary. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) spent nearly $30 million opposing El-Sayed, marking its largest investment in a single race. Shortly before the election, El-Sayed's primary opponent, Rep. Haley Stevens, endorsed Rogers. El-Sayed's victory suggests that candidates with similar platforms can win in competitive battleground states.
El-Sayed will join a new Democratic majority in both the House and Senate. His victory alongside other Democratic wins—including governorships in Texas and Georgia—sets the stage for the 2028 presidential election cycle. Rogers, having lost his second consecutive Senate bid following a narrow defeat in 2024, signaled a likely exit from the political stage as El-Sayed told his opponent to enjoy "retirement."